Kolkata, 01 April (H.S.): Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress candidate from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, is likely to file her nomination papers on April 8, according to party sources.

She is expected to take out a rally from her residence in Kalighat to the Gopalnagar Survey Building, where she is scheduled to submit her nomination papers.

Senior party leaders, including state Trinamool Congress president Subrata Bakshi, Kolkata Mayor and state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, and South Kolkata Trinamool president Debasish Kumar, are likely to be present during the rally. All Trinamool councillors from the Bhabanipur area are also expected to participate.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party has already begun campaigning in Bhabanipur. However, Mamata Banerjee has not yet formally started her campaign in the constituency. Party sources indicated that the Trinamool Congress will intensify its campaign in Bhabanipur after she files her nomination, with rallies and meetings planned across different wards and senior leaders expected to campaign in her support.

The party is said to be focusing particularly on Ward No. 73, where its first major election meeting may be held on April 14 to mark the birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar.

At present, the party is concentrating on strengthening organisational activities in the constituency, with local leadership actively engaged in preparations.

Notably, the West Bengal Assembly elections this year will be held in two phases, with polling scheduled for April 23 and April 29. Bhabanipur will go to polls in the second phase. The notification for the second phase will be issued on April 2, while the last date for filing nominations has been fixed as April 9.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh